Author Susan Orlean wrote a best-selling book years ago that you’ve probably heard of: The Orchid Thief. It was made into a movie called Adaptation. Susan has now written another book—this one about an unexpected crime that might not have been a crime at all. A fire in the LA Public Library destroyed more than 400,000 books in 1986. Did they find out what caused it? Or who? Susan tells me the story in her book, The Library Book. 

Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 

See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com 

Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 

2026 All Rights Reserved 

Author Susan Orlean wrote a best-selling book years ago that you&rsquo;ve probably heard of: The Orchid Thief. It was made into a movie called Adaptation. Susan has now&nbsp;written&nbsp;another book&mdash;this one about an unexpected crime that might not have been a crime at all. A fire in the LA Public Library destroyed more than 400,000 books in 1986. Did they find out what caused it? Or who? Susan tells me the story in her book,&nbsp;The&nbsp;Library Book.&nbsp;
Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/4gF2K18">https://bit.ly/4gF2K18</a>&nbsp;
See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com&nbsp;
Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram)&nbsp;
2026 All Rights Reserved&nbsp;

Welcome to Tenfold More Wicked Presents: Wicked Words, Kate Winkler Dawson's true crime talk show. On each new episode of Wicked Words, Kate interviews journalists, podcasters and authors about their fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from their investigations in the world of true crime, many of which have never been shared before. 

Kate interviews Patricia Cornwell, the prolific true crime author about her book Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper – Case Closed, she heads to Texas with veteran journalist Rena Pederson to discuss her coverage of an uncatchable jewel thief during the swinging sixties, chats with podcaster and journalist Mandy Matney from the Murdaugh Murders Podcast and so much more. These are the stories behind the stories. 

Also in this feed is host Kate Winkler Dawson’s true crime limited series, Tenfold More Wicked. 
Season 12 - A Blessing and a Curse
Season 11 - Fire and Brimstone
Season 10 - Entitled 
Season 9 - The Wolf Among Us
Season 8 - The Morphine Murderess
Season 7 - The Annihilator 
Season 6 - The Echo of Murder
Season 5 - Blood Feud
Season 4 - Tiger Woman
Season 3 - Murder in the Court
Season 2 - The Body Snatcher
Season 1 - All That is Wicked

Wicked Words is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

Wicked Words - A True Crime Talk Show with Kate Winkler Dawson

Welcome to Tenfold More Wicked Presents: Wicked Words, Kate Winkler Dawson's true crime talk show. On each new episode of Wicked Words, Kate interviews journalists, podcasters and authors about their fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from their investigations in the world of true crime, many of which have never been shared before. 

Kate interviews Patricia Cornwell, the prolific true crime author about her book Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper – Case Closed, she heads to Texas with veteran journalist Rena Pederson to discuss her coverage of an uncatchable jewel thief during the swinging sixties, chats with podcaster and journalist Mandy Matney from the Murdaugh Murders Podcast and so much more. These are the stories behind the stories. 

Also in this feed is host Kate Winkler Dawson’s true crime limited series, Tenfold More Wicked. 
Season 12 - A Blessing and a Curse
Season 11 - Fire and Brimstone
Season 10 - Entitled 
Season 9 - The Wolf Among Us
Season 8 - The Morphine Murderess
Season 7 - The Annihilator 
Season 6 - The Echo of Murder
Season 5 - Blood Feud
Season 4 - Tiger Woman
Season 3 - Murder in the Court
Season 2 - The Body Snatcher
Season 1 - All That is Wicked

Wicked Words is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

Susan Orlean: The Library Book

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7390258c-7413-4b9d-a960-b41f012e7e65/transcript